"I'd rather have heavy casualties in a party of warriors, instead of a bunch of warhogs rampaging through the settlement where women and children might get in their way."
"Agreed," Alastair says with a sigh.
"And the runners acting as bait?"
"Keep them doing what they are. Let's go!"
***
"I smell wolves as well," the Second says to the only warhog able to talk back.
"We should kill them all. Where are they?"
"We should, but the Master tasked us to head to the settlement immediately. And I already regret listening and allowing you to send those warriors on the cat trails we found, no matter how fresh they were."
"We should have stopped and sent more so the enemy could be utterly defeated!"
"That's so single-minded of you! But what did I expect? The only reason you have your faculties raised enough to include speech patterns is that you and your stupid brethren can't understand proper communication when completely obedient. You are just a tool I use to order the warhogs around. If you want to keep your status, I suggest you keep your mouth shut unless it is to agree with me, got it?"
"Yes, Second."
Another warhog makes a series of grunts, so the Raised warhog speaks:
"A large group is about to reach us, both cats and wolves."
"I know, I'll hang back a bit and check it out. Speed up and keep going," the Second orders and then changes to wolf form, running in the opposite direction.
***
"Hurry, we've almost got them," Alastair mindlinks the other wolves.
Nazih bumps his shoulder, the cat form looking up over to the next ridge.
Damn it! He must have caught our scents.
Nazih dashes forward but gets stopped by Alastair's bark.
You think it wise to dash ahead? There could be a trap waiting, Alastair thinks, knowing there is no way Nazih can hear his thoughts.
The cat seems to have gotten the same idea, judging by how fast he returns to their ranks after the unspoken warning.
***
The Second reaches the front of his group once more and orders:
"Raised, have three of your men stay behind and delay the following group. There are about 20 of them on our tails."
"My men will surely die against 20 foes. If we all stay and fight, then victory is assured!"
"Again you presume too much. Your men were never yours except to command. They belong to the Master and he, in his graciousness, has already given us precise instructions to reach our destination as fast as possible.
Stopping now would translate into an unknown amount of further delay, and maybe too many casualties among the warriors the Master has requested by his side.
We are all here to serve him, as will your three warriors in their deaths. They will reach the Promised Lands and join the Master's Army waiting for them there, where all the glory of the ages lies."
"Yes, Second."
With a few grunts, three of the warhogs stop and turn around, preparing for what they consider a glorious death, earning them the fastest and most honorable of entries into the Promised Lands.
***
As the three warhogs are blocking their advance, the entire party stops and surrounds them.
The beasts grunt and growl, taunting them.
A wolf dashes forward.
"BACK TO YOUR PLACE!" Alastair screams into the mindlink at his wolf.
Either more disciplined or less eager for a fight, the cats stay put.
Alastair calmly steps forward, stopping a few feet away and snarls once.
With an unspoken agreement, one of the warhogs steps forward, and the two combatants start circling each other.
This is no longer a carnage, but a duel. A duel to the death perhaps, and one with no rules at that, but it is quite obvious that nobody else will interfere.
Though not at ease, Nazih steps back to where Marcus's wolf form is watching the fight intently. He taps the wolf's shoulder with his snout, and after a glance, they both shift into their human forms.
"What is he doing?" Nazih asks.
"Limiting our casualties. He thinks he can take all of them out, one by one. He assumes they are bound by honor to fight him as he has issued a direct challenge."
***
"That was a great battle, my friends are upset I got to go first, and they will not get their chances."
"You think I couldn't take them as well?" Alastair asks the fatally injured warhog.
"Will you belittle my honor and my effort by saying you are both uninjured and well rested after our fight?"
"That would be a lie. Faced with a fresh you, I have doubts about the outcome."
"You are a great warrior nonetheless. For a wolf that is..."
"What should we do with them?"
"There is no other option but to fight. They want to get to the Promised Lands and combat is the best way to do it. Anyone else in your group that can fight as well?"
"Not really, though I hate to admit it."
"Then it will not satisfy them."
"What would you suggest?"
"How about one of mine vs. three of yours?"
"Cats of wolves?"
"Wolves of course. Cats run around too much. They're such a nuisance."
A few grunts and another warhog steps forward, his eyes gleaming with something akin to excitement. He nods shortly at Alastair then waits.
"Marcus, Brams, Igor, this warrior is looking for a good fight. Give him one!"
Marcus changes to his wolf form and steps into the circle, along with the other two wolves.
When the ensuing fight concludes and the warhog finally falls, Igor is hurt and more or less completely incapacitated, but the other two sport minor wounds.
By now, the first warhog has died from blood loss, and the third looks eager for his chance at a glorious death.
Both Marcus and Brams join the third fight, having to fight as a group against a warhog clearly not as exhausting as Alastair's one versus one. A fresh wolf joins them to replace their injured pack mate, and the deadly dance begins anew.
The three have learned from Igor's experience, however, and avoid overcommitting themselves, opting for numerous safe blows, bites, and scrapes against the warhog, neither of them even coming close to being fatal.
The injuries slowly and steadily stack up, and the Master's soldier ends up suffering from multiple bleeding wounds, working in conjunction to weaken him.
The invisible barrier hugging his brain like a fog blanket starts fading, as death's proximity clears his mind, giving the warhog the ability to talk, despite not having the status of a Raised,
"I thank you all, but I'm sorry to say you actually helped the Second with these duels. We were ordered to delay you for as long as possible. We knew we stood little chance of winning, but with these duels... I'm sorry!"
"Sounds like you truly are sorry. Shouldn't you be glad you are going to your Promised Lands?" Nazih asks.
"Not all of us believe that bullshit. Maybe you will learn our story one day.
I can give you one piece of advice though. No warhog is your friend, and they will follow the will of the Master to their dying moment. Only then, will some regain their sanity. There is such a long story behind this, I..."
"What do you mean, man? Talk to me!" Alastair asks, kneeling beside the dying warhog and holding his head.
"I truly am sorry! I wish I had more time – there is a chance you could maybe help us and yourselves if only... "
"If only what? IF ONLY WHAT?"
"He is dead, my friend," Nazih says placing a hand on Alastair's shoulder.
"By the Moons, damn it all! Now what?"
It is clear the lead wolf's question is addressed more to the Moons than anyone around him and silence settles over everyone for a few moments.
"You need to rest, Igor is too hurt, and the cats we saved are really in no condition to fight even one warhog. Take them and head for the settlement. I'd lik
e your remaining wolves to accompany me. We still have six warhogs out there chasing my cats, and I can't abandon my warriors. Plus you wouldn't want a warhog charging at you from behind now, would you? I'll send for help as well."
"We'll follow your plan, since this time I got nothing. Marcus, you're in charge, so the wolves are yours to command. Follow Nazih's orders! He seems to know his stuff. And Marcus?"
"Yes, Alastair?"
"Make sure all your wolves come back in one piece!"
"Of course, my friend."
***
From the moment he realized the wolf bitch was going to win, he knew he had to get out of there.
Mahli had promised him power and the Beta position since Nazih was certain to be killed by whatever elements the Alpha was in cohorts with.
He didn't care though, as long as he got his advancement and the power that came along with it.
How could that female fight off the Alpha without even turning into her animal form? What kind of a freak is she?
And now he finds himself forced to keep running. So many terrible miscalculations!
Sano's injuries prevent him from running too fast, even in his swift form, but with a little luck, his vanishing act bought him enough of a head start to get away. None of the wolves would be able to catch him.
But he keeps going anyway since that bitch, after announcing through the pack links she is their new Alpha, probably sent some wolves after him. But then again, she is probably too stupid to even notice him missing.
Ha! A female Alpha! Mahli is probably twisting in the underworld at the idea since he never thought of women as good for anything more than giving birth and cleaning stuff, a principle he personally agrees with completely.
"Sano, you need to stop and come back with us. The Alpha might spare you if you cooperate."
Shit, the bitch sent cats after me, not wolves!
"Leave me alone you lapdog; I refuse to serve under a she-wolf that doesn't know her place is either in the kitchen or on her back, spawning babies!"
"We will catch you anyway; the pack bonds already feel stronger as we close in on you!"
"Ha! Pack bonds my ass! Weren't you a proud member of a pride less than an hour ago? Traitor!"
"You witnessed the fight Sano; she won fair and square. And you know you can challenge her next week if you think you could do a better job at being an Alpha; just stop and come back with us!"
His mind starts spinning on the possibility.
Could I really take her out? But if Mahli couldn't... and he was an Alpha. That is assuming she doesn't have me killed by next week. Damn it! I was so close to being a beta! Stupid bitch and her stupid, freakish strength!
"I'm not coming back. I'd rather be a rogue than a so-called 'pack' member. I, Sano refuse to be part of this pride or pack, and wish to be on my own!"
"But that means..."
That definitely shut him up. And everyone else for that matter. Let's see how they track me now, with no bonds to follow! What a lovely little river, and a lovely little rocky shore on the other side! Never thought I'd see the day when I'd appreciate the fact that a cat's sense of smell is worse than that of a wolf's.
Happy that passing through the water and keeping to the rocks on the other side cut off both his scent and his tracks from his pursuers, he keeps running.
Chapter 9 - New Beginnings
Jena sits directly in the Ex-Alpha's chair in the room that used to serve as his office without any formality, skipping directly to business. After a measuring gaze around the room, taking in everyone present, including the other senior warriors that have gathered at her request.
"Hani, regardless of your current status, you are now acting Beta at least until Nazih returns or this mess is sorted out."
"Yes, Alpha!"
"Do you have a map of the settlement and its surroundings?"
The interim Beta walks over to a cabinet and pulls out a large scroll, spreading it all over the desk, with parts of it hanging over.
"What do you usually do when you are about to be attacked?"
"We... well, actually Alpha, I don't remember ever being attacked. I don't think there is an actual plan for such an event."
"Damn it! Lands? Any thoughts would be appreciated."
Lands nods and comes over, studying the map for a couple of minutes.
"Well? Anything?"
"I may have something. Though normally I'm against having a very fixed position when the enemy knows exactly where to find you, there are too many non-combatants to consider simply moving away. Mobility out of the options bag, we could get everyone in this narrow canyon over here. We have these two choke points we could easily hold since it looks like two people could barely squeeze by if going shoulder to shoulder through either of them."
"Good. Let's do that!"
"Unless..."
"Unless what, Lands?"
"We take a few warriors and draw them away from the settlement."
"No! I will not abandon my people. The enemy might choose to stay and attack the settlement instead."
"But you would be alive and able to go back to your father to ask for help. We could come back and save them after that."
Hani looks at Lands with a murderous glint in his eyes.
"Not if there is the slightest chance some may get hurt. I know you are first and foremost my bodyguard, but I'm staying, and the initial plan seems like the best one."
"Then so will we," Lands says, and Sima in his wolf form huffs in agreement.
All the cats in the room display an incommensurable amount of relief and gratitude at their Alpha's decision, without even using any words.
With a single gesture, by putting herself in danger to protect her new pack, she has won all of their hearts. Warm feelings aside, she now has to prove worthy of their actual trust.
"I'll go help everyone prepare and get ready. How soon do we move?" Hani asks.
"Immediately."
***
Alastair finds the settlement abandoned, and his heart quickens, but there are no signs of actual fighting. Following his nose, there is a clear direction in which all the scent traces are leading. And he can identify Jena's familiar one in between them, so he follows the trail.
Further on, with the new pack under her care, warriors besides her and high, rocky walls on either side, the new Alpha has nothing to do but wait for the attack. That and hope Alastair and the others are OK.
One cat they had placed at the beginning of the canyon comes running.
"Someone is coming," he mindlinks his Alpha.
"In detail please," Jena asks of him.
"Five cats carrying a wolf, and another wolf accompanying them."
"These should be our friends. Lands, please go check it out but get away at the first sign of trouble."
He quickly changes forms and darts off, only to return moments later with Alastair and a still unconscious Igor, carried by four of the five cats, last one limping behind.
Alastair bows before his Diplomat as he reaches her side, letting out a large sigh of relief, but she simply hugs him in return.
"Are you alright?"
"Are you OK?"
They ask at the same time, stepping back at arm's length.
"I was so worried once I found out you supposedly attacked Nazih and his men. I was sure it couldn't be so, but..."
"Me, attack Nazih? Ridiculous! While it is true we fought, not for one moment was it against each other. Our foe though is a formidable one. Extremely hard to match in physical prowess."
"What about the others?" Jena asks with a pained look in her eyes, fearing the worst.
"They're fine, for now at least. They had to go fight a few more of these beasts. My turn! What happened to you? I couldn't try to reach you earlier because of the possibility of a traitor in our midst, but when we reached the settlement and it was empty, I thought I was too late. I reached out, and you weren't answering. Nothing came back. You had me worried sick!"
"Ah, about that, there is something I have to tell you..."
"Excuse the interruption Alpha, but we should take the injured to the back of the canyon with the others."
"Go ahead, Hani," Jena says and turns back to Alastair.
His open mouth seems to be forming words, but no sounds come out, though the raised brows display obvious surprise.
"You were saying?" He manages to ask after a moment, waiting for an explanation.
"Well, we were walking around when Mahli came over and like I said, he accused you of betraying him and his cats in the hunting party that went along with you, basically calling me a traitor to both him and my status as a Diplomat, and he wanted to lock me up and... "
"Son of..." a snarl comes out instead of the actual word. "Where is that asshole? I'll kill him!"
"Been there, done that. And so we obviously had an argum..."
"Excuse me?"
"I killed him, after he attacked me first, of course. He seemed to have quite the temper problem. Hence the Alpha part. So we were arguing about..."
"Yes, Jena was very adept at goading him into a reckless, predictable move," Lands interrupted.
"You noticed that, didn't you?" Jena asks, surprised to have been so easily caught red-handed. "So you see, after killing him, and because an attack was coming, and a pride or pack without an Alpha can fall into chaos quickly, I did the best thing I could think of at the time to protect everyone. I claimed the pride as my pack, having defeated the old Alpha in combat. Old bonds were cut, and new ones were formed in their place. That is probably the reason why you couldn't mindlink me."
"I see. In that case, I see no other way to solve this new problem between us... There really is only one thing I can do..." he says taking a knee and looking at the ground, "I must join your pack."
"Us as well," Sima says after changing to human form.
Both he and Lands sit in the same pose as Alastair, just a step to either side and behind him.
"Hmm, on one condition though."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Alastair has to accept my first request as his Alpha voluntarily, without me commanding it."
"Of course, anything? What is it?"
"You need to accept first."
"But can't you tell me what..."
Rise of an Alpha Female (Two Moons Book 1) Page 9